News Releases

The Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval will be wrapping up for the season on Sunday, March 2, 2025.

Public skating hours for the final week of operation are Monday to Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The City of Saskatoon and Gordie Howe Sports Complex thank residents for their patronage. Public skating at the indoor municipal rinks will continue to be available in March. Visit dropinschedule.saskatoon.ca for the public skating schedule.

The City of Saskatoon is looking for resident input on creating a more accessible, inclusive and barrier free community for everyone who lives, works and plays here.

“Over the next year, the City must develop an accessibility plan that reflects the needs and experiences of all residents,” says Stryker Calvez, Director of Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) for the City of Saskatoon. “We recognize the responsibility we have to find, fix, and remove barriers so that everyone, especially people with accessibility needs, can be part of strong and inclusive communities.” Developing an accessibility plan for the City is a requirement of the Accessible Saskatchewan Act, which states that the City must have a plan in place by December 2025.

In order to create this plan, the City is looking for resident participation to complete an accessibility survey. The survey opens February 27 and can be found on the City’s Engage page. It will remain open until March 27, 2025. After completing the survey, residents will have an option to sign up to participate in focus groups and to be eligible for a random draw for one of many $50 gift certificates.

“We have done a lot of work to make these surveys as accessible as possible,” says Calvez. “There are options to complete long or short form surveys and we have tested them to ensure they are compatible with assistive technology, such as screen readers.” Paper copies of the survey will be made available and other options exist for those who request them.

Developing a plan for improved accessibility is not just about making buildings more accessible, although that is important. It is about providing information and employment opportunities in more accessible ways such as making information assistive technology friendly and using language translation services. “We also need to hear from our residents about how we can improve their accessibility and our accommodations when it comes to transportation, service animals and buying goods and services from the City,” says Calvez.

Removing barriers and improving accessibility in our communities is a complex task. “We fully recognize that we may not get everything right the first time,” says Calvez. “There is going to be some trial and error but we are committed to working with our communities to create a more inclusive community for everyone.”

Residents can learn more about the plan on our Accessibility Plan page.
 

As Saskatoon transitions into spring, City crews are proactively managing the melt by clearing snow and ice from priority drainage routes and known problem areas. While some temporary pooling is expected, crews are prepared to respond to drainage concerns as needed. 

How Residents Can Help 

If you notice significant water pooling or a blocked catch basin, check if it's covered by snow or ice. Clearing it, if safe to do so, can help water drain more efficiently. If the issue persists, report it to the Customer Care Centre at 306-975-2476 or customercare@saskatoon.ca to ensure it is properly categorized and prioritized for response. 

What to Expect 

As temperatures rise, standing water may become more noticeable, particularly in areas with heavy snow accumulation. Crews will inspect and prioritize emergency flooding locations that pose a risk to property, major roadways, and pedestrian access, aiming to address these within the same day. 

Non-emergency pooling—such as water collecting on residential streets that does not impact traffic—may take several days to resolve as temperatures fluctuate and melting continues. 

Back Lanes 

Gravel back lanes can become muddy and uneven as the ground thaws. While it may seem like they need immediate grading after the snow melts, heavy equipment cannot be used until the lanes have dried enough to prevent further damage. Crews will begin grading operations as soon as surface conditions allow, ensuring all back lanes are addressed as part of the regular spring maintenance cycle. 

Potholes & Utility Cuts 

As snow melts, water seeps into road cracks, leading to soft gravel utility cuts where a utility company has excavated the road for a repair, and potholes. Crews are maintaining utility cuts and performing temporary cold-mix repairs on high-priority streets, with permanent hot-mix asphalt repairs beginning in mid to late April when hot-mix becomes available from suppliers. Residents can report potholes via the Customer Care Centre or the Report-a-Pothole tool at saskatoon.ca/potholes. 

Street Sweeping 

While snow-clearing equipment remains on standby for any late-season storms, spring pre-sweeping is expected to begin in mid-April, starting with Priority streets and Business Improvement Districts. Removing debris and sand early helps minimize dust and prepares streets for full sweeping operations later in the season. 

For more information on spring melt preparations and lot drainage tips, visit saskatoon.ca/snowmelt.

Lorne Avenue will be closed between 8th and 7th streets starting Thursday, February 27, at 8:30 a.m. for a connection replacement. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This project is expected to take two days to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.                              

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

11TH ST W EB LANES CLOSED FROM AVE R S TO AVE Q S
(Tree maintenance)
Start: February 26, 9:00 a.m. End: February 26, 1:00 p.m.

33RD ST W EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM AVE B N TO IDYLWYLD DR N
(Sign installation)
Start: February 26, 9:00 a.m. End: February 26, 5:00 p.m.

ONGOING

8TH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM MCORMOND DR TO ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road construction)
No access to Zimmerman Rd from 8th St
Start: June 10, 7:00 a.m. End: February 26, 5:00 p.m.

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 7:00 a.m. End: September 26, 2025, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.